Swedish election rivals in poster compromise

Published: 17 Aug 2014 11:02 GMT+02:00

The anticipated battle for Plattan" - where youth parties jostle to put up campaign posters in a key central Stockholm location - ended in an amicable compromise on Saturday due to lurking Sweden Democrats.

The so-called battle for Sergel Torg in central Stockholm has become something of a tradition in recent election campaigns with the Moderate and Social Democrat youth parties (MUF and SSU), the main protagonists.

While the media, including The Local, reported with baited breath on Saturday of the imminent encounter, the parties were busy reaching a compromise to share best places on which to display their election epithets.

One of the reasons for the deal was the fact that the Sweden Democrats had managed to claim a portion of the fenced railing for themselves.

"Sometimes one has greater enemies," said Jessica Rosencrantz at MUF Stockholm.

The agreement meant that the election rivals helped each other out, sharing tape and creating an all-round cheery camaraderie which is however set to be sorely tested in the month-long run up to the general election on September 14th.

"It feels great that we managed to hold to the agreement," said Alva Dahn at SSU Stockholm.

Dahn said that the atmosphere had reached fever pitch as midnight approached.

"It was quite dramatic for a while. Those of us in charge had to go in and mediate," she said.

Many of the smaller parties also vying for votes in the election elected to take a more stand off approach and pick off some of the other choice spots across the square which dominates Stockholm's central shopping district.

"The fight between MUF and SSU on Sergels Torg goes way back. But instead of joining into the brawl, we think it is better to take the other places," said Linda Nordlund at the Liberal Party youth wing.

While the skirmish of Sergel ended with a whimper, Delmon Haffo at MUF pointed out that Saturday was just the first salvo and there remain many sites to claim in the election PR war.

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